Hannah Worral

Graduate Student

My name is Hannah, and my graduate research focuses on how intercropping systems alter soil microbial community dynamics and nitrogen availability to influence the timing and progression of chickpea senescence and seed fill. Chickpea’s highly indeterminate nature presents a unique challenge, and while a genetically determinate chickpea remains an elusive goal, it is also one of the top requests from growers. As a result, a key objective of the NDSU Pulse Crops Breeding Program (PCBP), of which I am also a member, is to explore how extra-genic signals — such as microbial or environmental cues — might initiate maturation. As the applied geneticist and lead of the Elite Breeding Branch (EBB) of the PCBP, this project aligns closely with my goals for both the breeding program and my graduate research. With over 15 years of experience in applied breeding, genetics, and agricultural research, I am eager to broaden my expertise to include microbial ecology, strengthen my bioinformatics background, and contribute to the development of more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems for pulse crops.